14 Times People Tried To Make Some Unhinged Arguments Against Canceling Student Loans

    "I paid off my loans, therefore everyone else should have to do the same."

    Shelby Heinrich
    by Shelby Heinrich

    BuzzFeed Staff

    According to the US Federal Reserve, student loan debt in the country reached nearly $1.74 TRILLION in 2021.

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    That's a lotta loans.

    And, as many borrowers (myself included) have come to find out, paying off student loans is pretty overwhelming and basically impossible thanks to the fact that they're constantly accumulating interest. If you need further proof, please refer here and here.

    Because of this, lots of people (including some politicians) think that student debt (whether it be all of it, $50K for each borrower, or even just $10K for each borrower) should be canceled. Personally, I am also in this camp.

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    But there are also people who (wrongly, IMO) think that student debt should NOT be canceled and we should all just keep paying 'til we keel over. Here are some of their arguments:

    1. I mean, seriously, they're your loans, so you should prioritize paying them off, even if you're DYING OF CANCER:

    2. And if you're lucky enough to qualify for loan forgiveness, don't do it because of your ✨pride✨:

    3. If other (richer) people were able to do it, you should be able to do it too:

    Andrew Nadeau @TheAndrewNadeau

    Millennials, quit whining. I paid off $150,000 in student loans and own a $400,000 home, because I SAVE. It’s not that hard. I -Make coffee at home -Bus instead of Uber -Shop sales -Had parents pay off my loans & buy me a house because I’m daddy’s special boy -Got Hulu with ads

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    Twitter: @TheAndrewNadeau

    4. You can always just move in with your parents and give up all the things that give you joy — or, y'know, just be lucky enough to be born wealthy:

    Soledad O'Brien @soledadobrien

    Also: try harder to be born wealthy! Avoid financial disasters—like your parents losing their jobs, or someone in the family fighting cancer. Make sure you have a rich uncle who can bail you out if you run out of money! https://t.co/LDwB0f2PqQ

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    Twitter: @soledadobrien

    5. Wanna pay off your debt sooner? Just raid your retirement fund!!! (Assuming you even have one):

    Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein

    The privilege of raiding your retirement fund to pay off your student debt. These cheap bastards want you to die in the gutter

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    Twitter: @kenklippenstein

    6. I mean, other people paid off their student debt, so why should anyone else get any kind of relief?

    7. Seriously, would that really be fair?

    The Volatile Mermaid @OhNoSheTwitnt

    My grandmother died of cancer. Would it really be fair to cure cancer now after so many people have died from it?

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    Twitter: @OhNoSheTwitnt

    8. Kinda a slap in the face, don't you think?

    9. Besides, it's not like other people are getting their debts forgiven...right???

    Mila Carditis @GrainSurgeon

    Lol this u bro? https://t.co/GXqyuXcUAH

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    Twitter: @GrainSurgeon

    10. And hey, shouldn't the people who paid off their loans get some money back too (even if they wen't to college when classes were $10 a credit)?

    Walter Cool @KrangTNelson

    buddy you went to college in like 1905 sure you can have your $2.36 back https://t.co/6f1WsrSFrQ

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    Twitter: @KrangTNelson

    11. Took out loans to get an education? Should've just put your body on the line and joined the military instead:

    12. Or started saving early (aka the millisecond you were born):

    Malcolm Harris @BigMeanInternet

    The America dream: Children gathering scrap metal in the hopes of affording education. https://t.co/uQsza5MyTk

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    Twitter: @BigMeanInternet

    13. Plus, if we cancel student debt, that means all the undeserving trust fund kids will get their debts canceled too:

    Jaybefaunt🏳️‍🌈 @Jaybefaunt

    I love how the people who are against canceling student debt always base there reasoning against it on that they don't want "rich kids getting their student debt canceled" Want to know a secret? RICH KIDS DON'T HAVE STUDENT DEBT.

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    Twitter: @Jaybefaunt

    14. And if you just pay, and pay, and pay, eventually they'll get paid off anyway, right?

    sarah kelly @thesarahkelly

    I borrowed $38,876 for school from one private lender. Since graduating, I’ve paid that lender $31,501. How much do I still owe them? $47,023

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    Twitter: @thesarahkelly

    In conclusion, cancel student loan debt yesterday.